College Admissions: Visiting Schools to Learn More

By Pete Musto13 January, 2018So many everyday activities in modern life are done over the internet.This includes everything from buying clothes to watching movies to even applying for admission to college.Almost every college and university in the United States now offers some form of internet-based application. And future students can see photographs of schools on their websites. Some even provide video tours.Candidates can find all kinds of information about the schools they hope to attend all over the internet.But Ed Bustos argues that students miss out on a lot when they only use internet information to make their college decisions. Bustos is the director of international admission at Rollins College, a private liberal arts school in Winter Park, Florida.Bustos says the best way to get a detailed look at what life is like at any college or university is by visiting the campus.

Ed Bustos, director of international admission at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

"We all sound alike on paper and, I think, on websites," he told VOA. "So what makes us a lot different is when a student can actually visit us, because I think that's when they see the true differences and uniqueness of each campus."School visits are very common in the U.S., Bustos notes. Most students begin visiting colleges and universities of interest in the summer before their final year of high school.But, the majority of colleges and universities let interested students and their families visit their campuses at almost any time of year. Busto suggests that students contact the admissions offices of the schools that interest them. Then they can join other visiting candidates for a free guided tour of the campus.Current students usually lead the tours, Bustos notes. Their job is to provide information, offer advice and show future students all the different parts of the campus, such as housing and classrooms. So students should prepare plenty of questions.Bustos adds that students should not limit their questions just to tour guides. He suggests that students should also try to plan a meeting with an admissions official on the same day they come for a tour. Most schools keep a record of all the exchanges they have with candidates, he says. And trying to meet with officials in person to ask them questions shows interest on the part of the applicant, which schools like to see.Bustos also notes that it is never too early to visit a school. He says students should consider visiting any college or university they can. This could be years before they even start thinking about the application process. And it does not matter if the school they visit is the one they have interest in attending, he says. Simply witnessing the college experience in real life can be helpful for young people.That is why Bustos always enjoys seeing applicants bring any younger brothers and sister they might have with them on visits."It's very beneficial for them because maybe they can think, ‘Wow, I really need to take my grades seriously, because this is actually achievable,' he said. "They ...always hear about it. But when they actually step on a college campus and get to see it, they're like, ‘Oh wow, I really need to take this seriously because I need to make this happen. This could be me some day.'"Still, Bustos argues, there is more to visiting a college or university than taking a tour or meeting administrators. After all, he notes, most tours take place over several hours during the morning or middle of the day. That is when most of the current students are in class, so it can often seem like there is no actual student life going on at all.That is why Bustos says Rollins began offering night tours in 2017. That way visitors can see students, professors and employees involved in social activities and sporting events that happen outside of class hours.But he also notes that many colleges and universities in the U.S. are publically operated. This means anyone can enter the campus whenever they want. So interested students can take it upon themselves to see a different side of a school without a representative only showing them what they want people to see."Pick up the newspaper," said Bustos. "Go to, maybe, some collegiate events out there. ... See what it feels like to go to a play. See what's going on around campus ... Talk to students. Ask them their perspective. Yes, we all train our tour guides to give the best possible tour and show the best side of the university. ... But when you go walk on a campus and talk to random students, I think that is a great way to learn ... because you're going ... to hear a ‘true' perspective."

Students meet for a special event inside the Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

However, Bustos admits that visiting schools may not be a choice available to everyone, especially international students. And he says administrators understand this.So, he says, schools do not punish applicants for not visiting their campuses. Also, if a student is applying to several schools that are similar in size or environment, Bustos suggests visiting only one. That will still help the applicant imagine what it would be like to live and study at such a college or university, while cutting down on travel costs.Finally, for students who are unable to visit any schools they hope to attend, Bustos says there is one additional resource: social media. Many schools use Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to advertise themselves. Current students are often contributors to these social media accounts.Bustos says schools will permit some students to post videos and pictures that show what their daily lives are like at college. These can provide applicants with a view that is almost as good as being there in person.I'm Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Pete Musto.Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. How common is it for students in your country to visit the colleges and universities they want to attend before they apply? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on 51VOA.COM._______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

apply(ing) – v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writingcampus – n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or schooluniqueness – n. the quality of being unlike anything or anyone elsetour – n. an activity in which you go through a place, such as a building or city, in order to see and learn about the different parts of itbeneficial – adj. producing good or helpful results or effectsgrade(s) – n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a testachievable – adj. able to be done, earned or reached by working hardperspective – n. a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in generalrandom – adj. chosen or done without a particular plan or patterncontributor(s) – n. someone who creates something, such as a story, poem, or essay, for a publication